A LIFE Programme conference took place on 17 September 2024 at the Sheraton Hotel in Zagreb. Around a hundred participants from various sectors joined in to learn about achievements so far and potentials of the LIFE Programme in financing green transition in Croatia.
As a European Union’s financial instrument, the LIFE Programme actively supports projects aimed at environmental protection, biodiversity and climate action, with a special focus on projects that can speed up the process of green transition.
The storytelling about their experience with preparing applications and implementing LIFE projects included eight representatives of projects, some of which took stage on behalf of entities having a large number of LIFE projects in implementation and preparation: Ms Magda Sindičić from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb; Mr Tomislav Hudina from Biom CSO; Mr Hrvoje Kutnjak from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb; Mr Velimir Šegon from the Regional Energy Agency of North-Western Croatia (REGEA); Ms Miljenka Kuhar from the Society for Sustainable Development Design (DOOR); Mr Tomislav Opić and Ms Josipa Klobučar Markoš from Autotrans d.d. (Arriva Hrvatska); Ms Nevenka Crneka-Čudina from A1 Hrvatska; and Mr Aljoša Duplić from the Institute for Environmental and Nature Protection.
A panel discussion then followed about green policy objectives, experience and issues in implementation. Its participants were Mr Igor Kreitmeyer, Head of the Nature Protection Directorate, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition (MEPGT), Ms Sanja Genzić Jurišević from the Directorate for Water Management and Protection of the Sea, MEPGT, Mr Vjekoslav Jukić, Head of the Energy Policy and Planning Department, Ministry of Economy, and Mr Miljenko Sedlar from REGEA.
Next to the conference hall, there was a place for the display and promotion of projects, giving the conference participants a chance to directly become familiar with our Improve River Life Project and other Croatian LIFE projects in implementation through discussions with their representatives, promotional materials and networking.